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07/11/2013

Unions announce backing of Lopez in mayor's race

The AFL-CIO announced the support of four union locals for Anita Lopez in the race for mayor.

Except for the Toledo Fire Chiefs Association, which endorsed incumbent Mayor Mike Bell, area unions are mostly falling in line behind Lopez. Lopez is a Democrat. Bell is an independent. Five other people are likely to file or have already done so, including Democratic city Councilman Joe McNamara, independent Councilman D. Michael Collins, and independent Alan Cox, who is president of a city union, AFSCME Local 2058.

There are still some unions that so far haven't endorsed in the mayor's race - including UAW, Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, and Toledo Firefighters Local 92.

Below is a picture of Lopez with all of the union folks who showed up on Wednesday when she filed her petitions.

Here's the AFL-CIO's news release:

(Toledo, Ohio) – A number of Toledo based local unions announced their endorsements today of Anita Lopez in her campaign to be the next Mayor of Toledo. The unions include The Toledo Port Council, Boilermakers Local 85, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1059 and The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 379.

“The working people of Toledo want to know that their leaders are making decisions based on principles of basic fairness and integrity,” said Fred Keith, Secretary-Treasurer of Boilermakers Local 85. “They don’t have much of that today and Anita Lopez will bring that leadership in abundance to move the city forward,” he said.

“We have a responsibility to our membership to support candidates that are going to look out for their interests in the workplace and in the community,” said Don Cree, President of the Toledo Port Council. “We know Anita will have our backs when we need it most,” he said.

“Our members can support a candidate that respects them as workers and understands how we all depend on an improved and balanced local economy, Anita Lopez is our candidate for those very reasons,” said Jeff Hendricks, a member of RWDSU local 379.

These latest endorsements add to the growing list of unions backing Lopez which now includes a dozen local unions and some of the largest labor organizations in Northwest Ohio like the AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 8 and the Northwest Ohio Building Trades Council.

Here's the Teamsters van, one of two that was parked in the no-parking zone in front of Government Center on Wednesday. Admittedly, it's common practice for news vehicles and others to temporarily park there as well.